Timeline
From backyard Koi Pond to Commercial Cultivation, Production, and Distribution
2013
Year 2013
- Our story started in the summer of 2013 when my son, Howie Manuel and wife Virginia, asked: “Dad, Let’s Build a Koi Pond.”
2013
2017
Year 2017
- In the Beginning… – Aloha Gardens is born out of the building and enjoyment of the backyard Koi Pond in Hampton, VA
2017
2018
Year 2018
- Taro/Kalo Crop- 500 plants growing- The first “Oh Wow Lau Lau” Potluck Luau.
2018
2019
Year 2019
- Taro Harvest Festival- Backyard, Hands- On Harvesting. Lau Lau made by hand. 45 ticketed guests. First harvest and distribution of Kalo leaves.
- Taro Lead Distribution: 2 cities.
- Revenue Sales: $600
2019
2020
Year 2020
- Taro Harvest– KaloBuyDaBundle
- Taro Leaf Distribution: 6 cities
- Revenue Sales: 2,200
2020
2021
Year 2021
- Taro Harvest- KaloBuyDaBundle & “Oh Wow Lau Lau” Pick up.
- Taro Leaf & Lau Lau Distribution: 9 cities
- Revenue Sales: $5,000
2021
2022
Year 2022
- Taro Harvest
- Provide summer jobs at Aloha Gardens farm in Hampton House.
- Taro Leaf & Lau Lau Distribution: 4 cities.
- Official Launch: Aloha Brand Lau Lau- produce & distribute 2,000 units (Jul-Nov).
- Hire young adults for summer jobs at Aloha Gardens farm in Hampton, VA.
- Aloha Gardens manufactured over 2,000 lau lau servings.
- The Aloha brand Laulau was distributed to Hawaiian food restaurants, caterers, and households.
- Revenue Sales: $6,000
2022
2023
Year 2023
- Actively looking for land in the Tampa, Florida area
- Start cultivating Taro and many tropical plants at the initial “Test Bed” mala (garden) in Tampa, FL
- Acquired Dryland Kalo Huli and planted in the Florida “Test Bed”
- Supported five festival events with Tropical Greenery Stage Decorating
- KaloBuyDaBundle – Kalo Pick-Ups to 13 Cities on the East Coast
2023
January 1, 2024- March 31, 2024
Year 2024
- Secured land: Wesley Chapel, FL for Taro Patch,1 Acre – Cleared, Ready for planting
- Transplanted Kalo, Papaya Trees, Hibiscus plants to Wesley Chapel, FL
- Hampton Va Taro Patch grew very healthy this season
- Festivals/Special Events – Tropical Greenery Staging Decorating
- San Antonio, TX: Aloha Fiestaval (1st Year Participant)
- Walterboro, SC: South Pacific Festival (1st Year Participant)
- Jacksonville, NC: NC Pacific Arts Festival (4th Year Participant)
- Yorktown, VA: Annual Naval Weapon System Pool Luau (4th Year Participant)
- KaloBuyDaBundle – Four Separate Kalo Runs (July to Oct) to the following twelve cities:
- July (Gulf Coast Run): Houston, San Antonio, Arlington, Killeen
- Aug (Great Lakes Run): Mackinaw City, MI
- Sep: (Central Mid-West Run): Garner, NC; Chapel Hill, NC; Knoxville, TN; Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN; West Fork, Arkansas
- Oct (Rocky Mountain Run): Oklahoma City, OK; El Paso, TX
January 1, 2024- March 31, 2024
2025
Year 2025
2025: (What to look forward to…)
- Our First Taro Talk Newsletter to be released in Jan 2025
- Our Aloha Gardens Logo is revamped and released in Jan 2025
- Aloha Gardens website to have merchandise for on-line ordering
- Aloha Gardens is anticipating twice the amount of activity
- Watch for the KaloBuyDaBundle Pick-up for a city near you
Kalo Pick-Ups possibly start as early as April 2025 in San Antonio, TX for the Aloha Fiestaval event.
2025